Collapsible shelf



Oct; 4, 1949.

V. C. GRASSO ET AL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 31, 1947 a H a 6 6 4 M. w m M /4 INVENTORS V. C. GPASSO H. ms/vook 'BV ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 4, 1 949 C'OLVLAPS-VIBLE SHELF Vito Carmen Grasso', Bloomfield, and Harry Nelson Snook, Maywood, N. J assignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New- York Application October 3-1, 1947, Serial No. 783,322

' Claims. (01. 211 93) This invention relates to collapsible shelves, and more particularly to a shelf which may be latched in a collapsed position and which will automatically open to a supporting position when unlatched.

Collapsible shelves'have been found desirable in many fields, the'present need for them being in crowded areas in a factory or laboratory where permanent shelves are undesirable. A particular need for shelves'of this type has been found to exist in areas where heavy articles are carried into the area'with no available-place to put them. Furthermore, collapsible shelves of the commercially known types, which must be manually moved from their collapsed positions into support ing positions, are inadequate in such instances in that theperson carrying a heavy article must first find a place to rest it while the shelf is manually opened to receive the article. An object of the invention is to provide a collapsible shelf which may be normally latched in an out of the way position and which will automatically move into a rigid supporting position upon actuation of a latch. i

With this and other objects in view, the invention comprises a frame to pivotally support a shelf having a collapsible arm pivoted at one end'to the support and at the other end to the shelf with an intermediate expansible connection between the members of the arm to lock them in open position to form a rigid support for the shelf. A latch of the push button type, carried by the shelf for the support, may be actuated to release the shelf from its collapsed position torender a spring effective to force the arm from its collapsed position into its rigid open position, moving the shelf about its pivot into a supporting position. The intermediate structure of the arm includes a pivot pin carried by one of the arm mem-, bers and movable in an elongate aperture of the other member, whereby a locking pin, carried by the apertured member, may ride over a cam of Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional v'iew of the collap- I sible shelf shown in open or supporting position; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the shelf in its collapsed position;

' bottom of the opening H.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detailed view of the latch taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the arms taken'along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary perspective views of the intermediate structure of one of the arms shown at different positions during the relative movements of the members thereof into j open position; and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view of the lower pivotal support for one of the arms. and the springs for actuating the arm.

Referring now to the drawings,the support ill for the collapsible shelf may be any desired structure including a wall, a bench, a desk, or the like.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the support I0 is a vertical frame-like structure having an opening II to receive the shelf l2 and a housing l4 mounted on the support Ill and extending back of the opening H to house the arms, indicated generally at [5. The shelf 52 may be formed of Wood or any suitable material, and be of any desired size or contour. The inner or upper edge of the shelf [2 is hinged or pivotally mounted at I6 on the support It at the upper edge of the opening II. Abutt'on type latch I1 is mounted adjacent the outer edge of the shelf l2 and posiioned to have its plunger I8 engage an apertured member 19 mounted on the support In nearthe The latch if is of the commercially known type of push button latch, including a push button 20 which when pressed inwardly will move the plunger 58 inwardly to free it from the member l9 when the shelf is in the collapsed position shown in Fig. 2. The desired number of the arms 55 that are employed depend upon the length of the shelf and the weight to be supported thereby. In the present embodiment of the invention two arms l5 are employed, only one arm being seen in Fig. 1 as the arms are mounted in general alignment with each other. The description of one arm will apply to both arms in the present embodiment or any desired number of arms to be employed. The arm I5 is composed of two main members 2! and 22, the member 22 being U-shaped in cross-section, as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. The sides of the member 22, adjacent the upper end thereof (Fig. 1), are apertured to receive a pivot 23 supported by a bracket 24 mounted on the under surface of the shelf I2. The inner or lower end of the member 22 is of the contour shown in Figs.'5 and 6, including a cam surface 26 formed of a tapered surface of a filler block 2'! and similar tapered surfaces 28 of the side walls of the member 22. The filler block 21 is formed of suitable metal and is held in place by suitable means, such as welding. The cam surface 26 extends toward a cut-away portion 29 in the member 22, that is, the side walls thereof and the filler block 21, including a curved guiding surface 39'and a retaining notchtl'. The adja cent end of the member 22 has its sides formed substantially circular to receive an annular portion 33 of the filler block 21 cooperating with"; the sides of the member 22 to supporta pivot pin 34.

The member 2I of the arm. I discozhposedof two separate portions parallel withfthe'member 22 and positioned upon eachside-thereOfS V The lower edges 35 are bent at right angles to the main portions of the member 2l to add' rigidity thereto. The inner ends of the portions of the member 2! are held at the desired spaoed iiositions by a locking bolt 36, having a head 3'! to engage one of the portions of the member 2! and a reduced threaded portion 38 extending through an aperture in the other'portions of the member 2| and securedtheretoby anut '39.

Elongate apertures 40 are formed in the portions of the member 2! to.receive the ends of the pivot pin 34 and in this manner provide a pivotal connection between the members 2| and 22 of the arm I which may be extended to allow telescoping of the members within. given limits.

The detailed structure of the lower end of the member 2I of the arm I5 is shown in Fig. 7. A pivot or threaded shaft 43,- supported at its center by a bracket 44, mounted in the housing I4, extends through apertures in the parallel portions of the member 2i. Helical springs 45 have their main portions disposed concentric with the pivot 43 and held thereon by washers Miand nuts 47. Short ends "48 of the springs 45, having right angle bends therein (Fig. 1), engage the base portion of the bracket While the inner and. longer ends 390f the springs arehooked at 50 to extend around. adjacent edges of the portions of the member 2 I.

It is necessary for manual actuation of'the shelf to move it from its open. or supporting, position, shown in Fig. 1, to itsclosed or collapsed position, shown in Fig. 2. To: accomplish this result, the shelf is raised or moved counterclockwise a distance allowed by the movement of the pivot pin 34 in the elongate apertures 49, during which movement the locking pin 36 is moved free of the notch or notches SI and caused to climb" the inclined or curved surface (Fig; ,6), bending the arm portions 2| and 22 inwardly. By continuing movement of the central portion of the arm inwardly about the pivot pin 34, pivoting the outer portions of the members H and 22 about their pivots 43 and 23, the shelf may be lowered against the combined force of the springs 45 until it is latched in the collapsed position; shown in Fig. 2.

When it is desirable to use theshelf to support an article, the button 28 of the latch I! may be pressed to release the plunger I8, after which the shelf will be forced automatically into open position. The force for accomplishingthis result is inherent in the springs 45; forcing the member 25 of the arm I5 outwardly and causing the member 22 to follow in moving the shelf I2 about its hinge !6.

As the members 2I and 212 of the-arm I5 approach their aligned positions, shown in Fig. 1, the locking bolt 36- will first engage the-cam 4 surface 26 (Figs. 5 and 6). The continued application of the force of the springs 45 will cause the locking bolt 36 to ride down the cam surface 26, and in so doing, move the member 22 longitudinally until the locking bolt has been moved beyond the cam surface 26 and into the cut-away portionj129. Duringthis' action of the arm, or' arms," the shelf will have been moved slightly above this supporting position and will drop by gravity when the locking bolt 36 has passed beyond the cam surface 25 and entered thd'cut-away portion 29 to move the notch 3| down: upon the bolt 136i The shelf is now locked in'itsi'open or' supporting position and cannot out -'ofthe'-way position when not desirable for sure on button 26 of the latch I'I.

use, and which may be instantaneously brought into its supporting position for use merely by pressing a button latch whenxit'is desirable to use the shelf; All that is required of the person about to use the shelfis the application of pres- This maybe accomplished. in? many obvious" w'ayswhile the said person .is'holding an article which'is to-be disposedon the shelf with both hands. For example; the button may." be s pressed: by the per-.

sons elbow, a thumb, .or by a portion of the article he'is holding.

It is to be understoodihat the'abov'e' described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention.

Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilledin the art which will embody the principles of the invention and'fall' within the spirit and scope thereof:

What is claimed is:

1. A collapsible shelf comprising a support, a shelf hinged at onejedge to the support, an arm having two members, the outer end of one memberbeing pivotally'connected to the shelf and the outer end of the other member being pivotally connected to the support, means pivotally connecting the inner ends of the arm members, a latch having cooperating members carried-by the support and the shelf to hold the shelf in a collapsed position in the support, and

a spring. carried by the support and engaging the arm to actuate the arm to move the shelf into a supporting position when the latch is released. V a

2. A'collapsible shelf comprising support, a shelf hinged at one edge to the support, an arm having two members, the'oute'r end of one member being pivotally connected to the shelf and the outer end of theother member being pivotally, connected to the support, means pivotally connecting the inner ends of the arm members, a latch having cooperating memberscarried by the support and th e shelf to hold the shelf in a collapsed position in the support, a spring carried by the support and engaging the arm to actuate the arm to move the shelf into a supporting position when the latch is released, and means to lock the arm members-against accidental displacement when the shelf is in its supporting position.

3. A-collapsible shelf comprising a support, a shelf hinged at one edge to the support, anarm havingtwo members; the outer end of one member being pivotally connected to the shelf 'and the outer end of the-other member being pivotally connected tothesupport, a pivot-pin carried by the inner end of one arm member and movably disposed in an elongate aperture in the inner end of the other arm member, a latch having cooperating members carried by the sup port and the shelf to hold the shelf in a collapsed position in the support, a spring carried by the support and engaging the arm to actuate the arm to move the shelf into a supporting position when the latch is released, and a locking element carried by the apertured arm mem- 4 ber and receivable in a notch in the other arm member to lock the arm members against accidental displacement when the shelf is in the supporting position.

4. A collapsible shelf comprising a support, a shelf hinged at one edge to the support, an arm having two members, the outer end of one member being pivotally connected to the shelf and the outer end of the other member being pivotally connected to the support, a pivot pin carried by the inner end of one arm member and movably disposed in an elongate aperture in the inner end of the other arm member, a latch having cooperating members carried by the support and the shelf to hold the shelf in a collapsed position in the support, a spring carried by the support and engaging the arm to actuate the arm to move the shelf into a supporting position when the latch is released, a locking element carried by the apertured arm member and receivable in a notch in the other arm member to lock the arm members against accidental displacement when the shelf is in the supporting position, and a cam on the notched member to guide the locking element into the notch.

5. A collapsible shelf comprising a support having an opening therein, a shelf hinged at one edge adjacent the top of the opening, to the support, an arm having two members, the outer end of one member being pivotally connected to the shelf and the outer end of the other member being pivotally connected to the support, means pivotally connecting the inner ends of the arm members, a latch having cooperating members carried by the support and the shelf to hold the shelf in a collapsed position within the opening closing the opening from one side of the support, and a spring carried by the support and engaging the arm to actuate the arm to move the shelf into a supporting position when the latch is released.

VITO CARMEN GRASSO. HARRY NELSON SNOOK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 687,031 Jeficott Nov. 19, 1901 747,570 Pickop Dec. 22, 1903 965,816 Hill July 26, 1910 1,199,849 Willoughby Oct. 3, 1916 1,498,319 Dexter June 17, 1924 1,583,280 Cummings May 4, 1926 2,047,401 Whitted July 14, 1936 2,284,003 Luppert May 26, 1942 

